Stamp-affixing machine.



L. M. NIELSEN & H. WELLER.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

nrmoumn FILED APR. 11, 1906.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

L. M. NIELSEN & H. WELLER.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 190s.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

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L. M. NIELSEN & H. WELLER.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

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L M NIELSEN & H WELLER STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR 11 1906 Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

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STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 111.111) APR. 11, 1900.

978,475. Patented Dec. 13,1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURITS M. NIELSEN AND HENRY WELLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NIELSEN MAILING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed April 11, 1906. Serial No. 311,088.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LAURITS M. NIELSEN and HENRY WVELLER, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in 'Stamp-Atfixing Machines; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in machines for affixing stamps or other labels to packages fed therethrough, and particularly to improvements in machines for affixing stamps to mail matter.

One object of the invention is to so 0011- struct a stamp affixing machine that stamps,

or labels may be affixed to packages of considerable thickness, fed through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a stamp afiixing machine that packages fed continuously through the machine may be intercepted by the stamp affixing machine detector and receive a stamp without materially obstructing the movement of the packages.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a machine of this nature that stamps may be affixed to packages of irregular shape.-

Another objectof the invention is to so construct a machine of this nature that a single stamp deposited at one side of a barrier may be carried over said barrier and applied to a package atthe other side of said barrier.

Another object of the invention is to improve the stamp position moistener, and the stamp applying device.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists in the means for feeding forward the packages and in the detector lever mounted above the feeding means.

. The invention also consists in means for feeding forward packages, means for delivering a single stamp adjacent, at one side, the path in which the packages are fed forward, and means for taking said stamp and moving it laterally, over the package, and

downwardly against said package.

The invention also consists in the means for moistening the stamp position on the package.

The invention also consists in the means for subjecting the stamp to final pressure.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of construction and combina: tion of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a plan view of the im-' proved stamp affixing machine, parts of the same being broken away. Fig. 2, represents an end View partly in section of the machine taken on line 2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3, represents a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 Fig. 2, to illust ate the stamp cutter. Fi i, represents a side elevation of parts of the machine. Fig. 5, represents an enlarged Vertical cross sectional view, taken on line 5-5 Fig. 1, of parts of the stamp position moistener and the stamp plunger, the latter being in position to apply the stamp to the package. Fig. 6, represents a similar view showing the moistener roll in position as when applying moisture to the package and the stamp plunger in position to take up a stamp from the stamp supply compartment. Fig. 7,'represents a side view in detail of the interceptor arm, or detector, and of its associated presser roll for applying pressure to the stamp when on the package. Fig. 8, represents an enlarged vertical sectional view of the stamp plunger. Figs. 9 and 10 represent respectively side and end views of the main cam and the bearings associated therewith. Fig. 11, represents a bottom plan view of the stamp plunger and parts of its frame.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown in the drawings, in its preferred form, 2021 represent the side frames or walls of a conveyer chute having belt sustaining means herein represented by the cross partition 22 and furnished with the conveyer belt 23, of any suitable construction, mounted on rolls 24-25, one of which is designed to be driven. From the inner side of the frame 20 extends the plate guide 26 adapted to guide packages passing along on the belt 23 toward the frame 21.

To the outer side of the frame 21 is secured the plate 27 which, with the plates 28 and 29 and their braces form the stamp delivery frame. In the plates 27, 28 and 29 is journaled the shaft 30 adapted to be driven in any well known manner and furnished with the bevel. gears 31 and 32 and with the cams 33 and 34, to be hereafter more particularly described. The gear 31 meshes with the gear 35 the shaft of which is journaled in a bearing of the brace 36 and has the band pulley 37 carrying the stamp strip feed band 38 the upper reach 38 of which travels on the rolls 39 and 40 between the walls 4142 of the stamp strip feed chute which extends through the opening 28 in the upper portion of the plate 28. Strips of stamps are fed on to the upper reach 38 of the belt 38 by hand, or in any suitable manner and are fed along said belt by frictional contact therewith, the presser plate 43 acting to press the strip of stamps against said belt.

Pivotally mounted on the frame plate 28 is the stamp cutter 44 between whlch and the edge of the opening 28 stamps are designed to be severed by the periodical operation of the cutter actuated by the cam 33 through the medium of the rod 45 pivoted to the cutter and engaged wit-h the cam. From the cutter 44 extends the finger 44 the otlice of which will hereafter .be explained.

From the frame plate 28 extend the plates 46 and 47 between which are rotatably mounted the rolls 48, 49, and 50 on which the single stamp feed band 51 is mounted, this band being driven by the pulley 52 the shaft of which is journaled in the plates 46 and 47 and has the gear 53 meshing with the gear 32. At the forward end of the upper reach of this belt 51 is located the single stamp receiver, or compartment, 54 having the end wall 55 at the side of the frame plate 27. On brackets of the plates 46 and 47 is pivotally mounted the gate 56 the shaft 57 of which has the finger 58, adapted to be engaged by finger 44 on the cutter 44, to effect the swinging open of said gate on the downward movement of the cutter, and the lever 59 connected by the spring 60 with the plate 47 whereby resistance is offered to the swinging of this gate 56 and by which the gate is swung to the close, vertical, position when the finger 58 is released from the pressure of the finger 44, as when the cutter 44 is swung upward.

Secured to the plate 46 is the bracket 61 having the arm 62, and secured to the frame 20 is the bracket 63. Between these brackets 61 and 63 is supported the bridge member 64 having the arm 65, corresponding to the arm 62, and the guide slot 66, while, on this bridge is slidably mounted the carriage plate 67 having studs 6868 movable in guide slot 66. Motion is imparted to this carriage plate 67 through the link 69, pivoted to said plate, see Fig. 2, and the lever 70 pivotally mounted on a stud extending from the frame 21 and pivotally connected with the link 69, this lever 10 having a pin 71 on which the peripheral cam groove 72 of the cam 34 works.

Pivotally mounted on the carriage plate 67 is the moistener frame 73 having the downwardly curved arms between the ends of which is rotatably mounted the moisture applying roll 74, pressure being supplied to press the frame 73 downward by the spring 75 mounted on the plate 67 and bearing on said frame 73. The plate 67 is furnished, at a suitable distance from the free end of the frame 73, with the guides 767 6 in which is slidably mounted the plunger 77 having the perforated pusher plate 78 and. its frame 79, guide rods 80-80 being secured in the plate 78 and working through perforations in the frame 79, and through perforations in the plate 81, springs 8282 being mounted on the rods 8080 and bearing on the plate 81 and on the frame 79 tending normally to support the plate 78 against the plate 81 so that the needle points 8383 on said plate 81 may extend through the perforations in the plate 78; this plate 81 is bent upward at the sides and these sides are furnished with the projections 84 84 which are adapted to be intercepted by the stops 85-85 when the plunger 77 is sufficiently depressed to limit the movement of the plate 81 and its needle points while per mitt-ing the further movement of the plate 78 to push from said needle points a stamp or label carried thereby. The retraction of the plunger 77 is efiected by the spring 86 carried by the plate 67 and bearing on a pin on said plunger.

Mounted on the frame 20 is the water tank 87 having the inwardly extending lip 88 with the upwardly inclined edge 89. The fibrous pad 90 is supported by the lip 88 beneath the roll 74, at this part of the traverse of said roll, and extendsinto the tank 87 whereby moisture contained in the tank is supplied to the pad 90 and from the pad to the roll 74.

Journaled in the arms 62 and 65 is the shaft 91 having fixed thereto the pusher arms 92 and 93, the arm 92 being adapted to swing vertically in line with the stamp afl ixing position and the arm 93 being adapted to swing in line with the stamp compartment 54; also mounted on said shaft 91 are the lever arms 94, 95 and 96, and a coiled spring 97 which engages the arm 65 and bears against a part of the arm 94 to effect the swinging upward of said arm and the rocking of the shaft 91. This shaft being rotated against the action of such spring by the lifter rod 98 pivoted to the arm 96 and having at its lower end the bearing 99 against which the cam face 100 of the cam 34 works to lift the rod 98 and cause the rocking of the shaft 91 to depress the free ends of the levers 92, and 93.

The cam face 100 of the cam 34 has the throws 101 and 102, with returns approximately radial to the axis of the cam, see Fig. 10, and the throw 102 is higher than the throw 101, this latter being designed to act on the bearing 99 when the stamp plunger 77 and its stamp carrier, is in the position under the arm 93 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in readiness to pick up a stamp from the compartment 54; the throw 102 being designed to act on the bearin 99 when the plunger 77 is beneath the arm 92, as shown in Fig. 5 where these parts are to be moved a greater distance to apply the stamp to the package. The cooperating parts being suitably adjusted to permit of this movement.

Pivoted on a stud extending from the frame 21 is the hook 103 which is support-ed in the vertical position by the spring 104:; this hook is in the path in which the pin 95 of the arm works and is adapted to be swung backward against the action of the spring 104 when the throw 102 of the cam 3 1 acts against the bearing 99,that is, when the stamp plunger 77 1S moved downward to apply a stamp to the package the hook 103 is swung back, by the pin 95 and its arm 95, to the disengaged position. Also journaled in the arms 62 and 65 is the shaft 105 having thereon the arm 1.06, the pin 107 of which is engaged by the hook 103; and to which arm 106 the cam rod 109 is pivoted and has the bearing 110 working on the cam way, 101 of the cam 34 which is designed to effect the rocking of the shaft 105, through the said connections therewith as soon as the pin 95 of the arm 95 swings the hook 103 out of engagement with the pin 107 of the arm 106, that is during the application of the stamp to the package. ()n the shaft 105 is also mounted the arms 112112 between the free ends of which journaled the presser roll 113 which, when in position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 acts to intercept packages carried along by the belt 23. Pressure is exerted by the spring 114,- attached to the plate 61 and to the arm 11.5 of the shaft 105, to draw said shaft in a direction to resist the upward swinging of the roller 113 when the hook 106 is disengaged from 107.

Mounted on the shaft 105 and extending and are fed forward with the movement of the belt with which the guinmed surfaces of the stamps are in frictional contact, under the slight pressure of the plate 13, this forward movement of the stamp strip being limited by the stamp cutter 441 which normally rests across the path of the stamp strip. \Vhen the cutter 4: 1 is swung upward, by the action of the rod 415 and its can], the finger 441 of the cutter releases the linger 58 of the stamp gate 56 and permits action of the spring 60 to swing this gate toward the belt 51 to intercept the stamp strip after a single stamp has passed beneath the cutter 4 1; this cutter now descends and severs the first stamp from the strip of stamps and at the same time the finger 4P1 engages the finger 58 of the stamp gate 56 to swing said gate to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings thus permitting the severed stamp to be carried forward by the belt 51 and deposited in the stamp compartment 54, this forward movement of the single stamp being limited by the end wall 55 of said compartment.

The operation of the package feeding and stamp atlixing mechanism is preferably timed with relation to stamp supplying means so that approximately with the arrival of the stamp in the stamp compartment 5 1 a package is brought to position for receiving a stamp and the stamp position moistener, and the stamp affixing, or applying, devices are brought into action.

Packages of any dimensions, and nature, for which the machine is designed, either by reason of its size or the adjustment of its parts, are supplied to the belt 23 in any suitable manner. In the present instance these packages A represent magazines or newspapers folded and wrapped before reaching the present machine, the wrappers being sealed.

As the packages A are fed along in suc' cession by the belt 23 they are guided by the plate 26 toward the frame 21 of the package feed chute and are successively intercepted by the roll 113 which, at thistime, occupies the position shown in Figs. 2 and 1. The rotation of the cam 34 now actuates the lever by means of the cam way 72 and the bearing 71, to slide the carriage plate 67 toward the stamp compartment In this movement of the plate 67 the roll 74-. moves over the moistened surface of the pad 90, taking up moisture therefrom, and then moves downward over the inclined end 89 of the plate 88 and on to the surface of the package A to which a part of such moisture is delivered by said roll. Approximately as the roll 74 reaches the surface of the package A the stamp plunger 77 is brought ander the pusher lever 93 and the stamp carrier of said plunger is positioned above the stamp compartment 54-. the shaft 91 is now rocked by the action of the throw 101 on the bearing 99 of the rod 98 and the plunger T7 is pushed downward by the pusher lever 93 until the pins 8383 on the plate 81 pick up a stamp from the stamp compartment. The quick return surface of the cam throw 101 now permits the retraction of the shaft 105 and its attached parts by the action of the spring 114 while the spring 86 acts to slide upward the plunger 77 and its stamp carrier, with the stamp engaged by the pins 83. The cam path 72 now acts on y the bearing 71 of the lever to effect the backward swinging of said lever to move the carriage plate 67 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 5 to bring the plunger 77 under the pusher arm 92 and the stamp carried by the pins 83 above the moistened area of the package A.

At this time the throw 103 of the cam 34 acts on the bearing 99 of the rod 98 to rock the shaft 91 and, as the throw 102 is higher than the throw 101 a greater degree of rotation of the shaft is now effected; the first result of this rotation is to swing downward the free end of the pusher lever 92 to push downward the plunger 77 and the stamp carrier, the plates 8484 are brought against the stops 8585, thus limiting the movement of the plate 81 and its pins 83 while the movement of the plate 7 8 continues, the stamp being pushed from the pins 83 thereby and pressed against the moistened surface of the package A.

In the retractive movement of the carrier plate 67 the roll 74 rides up over the inclined end 89 of the plate 88 and on to the surface of the pad 90.

Simultaneously with the pressing of the stamp on to the article the arm of the shaft 91 is swung backward sufliciently for the pin 95 on said arm to engage the hook, or detent, 103 and swing said hook backward against the action of its spring 104 thus releasing the pin 107 of the arm 106 and permitting the upward movement of the arm 106 under the action of the rod 109 and against the retraction action of the spring 114, to the positions shown in Fig. 7, the roll 113 being raised to permit the forward movement of the package with the belt 23 while exerting a roller pressure on the upper surface of the package to press the stamp thereon; at the same time the free end of the detector lever 119 is pressed downward bringing the disk 120 to yieldingly bear on the rear portion of the package to press the same against the belt 23 to effect frictional contact of the package therewith so that the package is driven forward.

when the package under operation moves along from beneath the disk 120, this disk with its arm 119 is swung downward by the spring 117 until the arm 119 meets the stop 118, the disk 120 being then in position to intercept the next approaching package and prevent the further forward movement thereof until the package under operation passes from beneath the roll 113.

As soon as the package passes beyond the roll 113 the spring 114 acts to retract the arm 115 and to effect the reverse rocking of the shaft 105, thus swinging the roll 113 to the position to intercept the next package and moving the arm 119 upward, as is shown in Fig. 4, the hook 103 engaging the pin 10*! to effect the locking of the roll 113 in this position and to prevent the accidental swinging upward of said roll when struck by a moving package.

It is evident that the various parts of the machine may vary considerably in their construction from the specific construction herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The package feeding means may be usefully employed in machines other than label afiixing machines and it is not our intention to limit the use of any particular group of elements to any combination with any other group of specific elements herein shown.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. In combination, traveling means for feeding forward packages by frictional contact therewith, means for effecting a dwell of each package on the feeding means without affecting such feeding means, and means for subsequently increasing the frictional contact of the package with the feeding means.

2. A package feeding machine comprising a feed belt, a detent pivotally mounted above the belt, means for positively swinging said detent away from the belt, a spring adapted to retract said detent from the open position and means for locking the detent in the closed position.

A package feeding machine comprising 'a feed belt, a detent pivotally mounted above the belt, means for swinging the detent, and a lever mounted to move with the detent and to intercept a package at a distance from the detent.

4. A package feeding machine comprising a feed belt, a detent pivotally mounted above the belt, a lever pivotally supported above the belt, a lever pivotally supported on an arm extending from the axis on which the detent swings, and means for swinging said detent.

A package feeding machine comprising a feed belt, means for intercepting a package fed along by said belt, means for locking said intercepting means, and means for operating on said package while held from movement.

6. In combination, a feed belt for feeding forward packages, means for intercepting and holdin said packages from movement without affecting the feed belt, means for lockingsaid intercepting means, means for applying stamps to said packages and means for releasing said locking means after the application of the stamp.

7,. In combination, a feed belt. pivoted means for intercepting a package fed along by said belt, a locking device for said intercepting means, and means for releasing said locking device.

8. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a stamp feed belt, a stamp holder adapted to receive a stamp from its feed belt, and means for transferring a stamp from said holder to a package on the package feed belt.

9. A stamp affixing machine comprising a stamp strip feed, a stamp cutter, a single stamp feed, a stamp holder, and means for engaging a stamp in said holder and carrying it to the article to be stamped.

10. A stamp affixing machine comprising a stamp strip feed, a stamp cutter, a single stamp feed, a stamp holder adapted to receive the stamp from the stamp feed, and means for engaging a stamp in said holder, carrying it laterally and pressing it against the article to be stamped.

11. A stamp affixing machine comprising a stamp feed, a stamp holder having a forward Wall adapted to limit the movement of the stamp, and means for engaging a stamp in said holder and lifting it over said wall.

12. A stamp affixing machine comprising a stamp feed, a stamp holder having a forward wall located at the end of the stamp feed, a laterally movable stamp carrier, and means for moving the same vertically at both sides of said Wall.

13. A stamp affixing machine comprising a stamp holder, a package feed belt movable with respect to the holder, means for intercepting a package on said belt, locking means therefor laterally moving means for transferring a stamp from such holder to a package on said feed belt, and means for subsequently pressing the stamp against said package.

1 1. A stampaffixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a carriage mounted to move laterally above said belt, a stamp position moistener, and.a stamp aflixer both movably mounted on said carriage, and means for moving the stamp affixer While the car riage is stationary.

15. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a moistening pad located thereabove, a carriage slidably mounted, a frame pivotally mounted on said carriage and having a roll bearing on said pad, and means for sliding said carriage to move the roll off said pad.

16. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a moistening pad located above said belt at one side, a stamp holder located at the other side of said belt, a carriage slidably mounted above the belt and having a stamp engaging device, and a moistening device pivotally mounted on the carriage and working on said pad.

1.7. In combination, a package feed belt a pad mounted above the belt at one side and having a beveled end, and a roller mounted to move over said pad and down over said beveled end.

18. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a plate slidably mounted thereabove, a stamp carrying device mounted to move in a direction at right angles to the plate, means for periodically moving the plate, and means for moving the stamp carrying device.

19. A stamp applying machine comprising a package feed belt, a plate slidably mounted thereabove, a stamp position moistener pivotally mounted on said plate, a stamp carrier slidably mounted on said plate, means for effecting the sliding of said plate and means for moving downward said stamp carrier.

20. A stamp applying machine comprisin a package feed belt, a stamp holder locate at one side thereof, a plate slidably mounted above said belt and stamp holder, a sprin lifted plunger slidably mounted on said plate, and pressing means for depressing said plunger at both limits of its movement.

21. A stamp affixing machine comprisin a package feed belt, a plate slidably mounted thcreabove and having a stop pin, a spring lifted plunger slidably mounted on said plate, and having a laterally extending perforated plate, a spring supported frame 011 said plate and having needle points extending through the perforations of the plunger plate and a lateral extension adapted to be intercepted by said stop.

22. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt a plate slidably mounted thereabove, a spring lifted stamp plunger slidably mounted on said plate, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said plate and having pusher levers adapted to act on said plunger at times, and means for periodically rockin said shaft.

23. 1 stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, means for intercepting packages fed forward by said belt, stamp affixing means, and means controlled through the operation of the stamp affixing means for releasing said intercepting means.

24. A stamp affixing machine comprising a package feed belt, a presser mounted to swing toward and from said belt, to at times intercept packages thereon, a spring acting' on said presser in one direction, positive means for moving said presser away from the belt, a locking device for holding the presser in the closed position, stamp affixing means, and means controlled bv the movemeans, and means controlled through the op ment of the stamp affixing means for re1eas eratlon of the stamp affixlng means for reing said lock. leasing said lock. 7

25. A stamp affixing machine comprising In testimony whereof We aflix our signa- 5 a package feed belt, a rock shaft mounted tures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

thereabove, a roller frame fixed on said LAURITS M. NIELSEN. shaft, a spring acting to rotate said shaft, HENRY WELLER. positive means for rotating the shaft against \Vitnesses: the action of the spring, locking means for LOUISE C. CLEARY,

10 positively locking the shaft, stamp affixing HENRY J. MILLER. 

